[starry]

am I doing the right thing ?  I have weeded the beds no longer in use put manure on them (that need it for next years) and have covered my raised beds with black polythene is this OK or should I leave the beds open to the elements ?? I have a light sandy soil

[Savoy]

Personally I cannot see any reason to cover the beds.

I would let the elements take care of the manure you have spread on top and the worms will do their bit too.

I find that covering with black plastic encourages slugs to accumulate underneath,although that can be handy if you wanted to pick them off and dispose of them!

[Steve.B]

I cover the beds only to keep them dry till I'm ready to dig them much later in the year when everything is soaking wet! makes life much easier, then I leave them uncovered.

[jazzbyrd]

I always cover my beds.  I put manure on them and cover in black plastic with no problems. I dont have that much time so any time saved by not having to weed an open bed in the spring is good for me. I have little or no work to do when I am ready to plant ~ a little bit of light weeding of pale weak weeds and thats it ! The beds are also much warmer when its time for sowing seeds.

Jazz!

[Celtic Eagle]

I'd leave them uncovered and try an overwintered green manure which you dig in in the spring field beans or mustard  is worth a try or winter tares.  Try a place that sell animal and poultry food to buy the seed.

Good luck

[pushrod]

I often cover with pieces of an old pond liner (butyl rubber) -very hard wearing, have been using it for years and it doesn't tear like plastic will. I water well and put a few slug pellets down before spreading it out. Find it attracts and kills slugs and helps in keeping it weedfree. 

[Yorkie]

The only comment I would make about these coverings which are impermeable, such as plastic or rubber, is that they do not let the air and water through so there is a risk that the soil will become stale / organisms will not thrive over a period of months.

Make sure that the cover is removed well before planting if you do use it.

[Sue33]

we leave the beds uncovered 

[Greengirl]

You also need to leave the beds uncovered for a period to let the birds get at pupating nasties & other insects in the soil.

[pushrod]

The only comment I would make about these coverings which are impermeable, such as plastic or rubber, is that they do not let the air and water through so there is a risk that the soil will become stale / organisms will not thrive over a period of months.

Make sure that the cover is removed well before planting if you do use it.

I don't think that is a real concern tbh, unless someone is going to shrink wrap the soil .
There are always plenty of little mini beasts under there when i lift mine. I think what damages the beds more is when people walk on their soil. I have a system of scaffolding planks which i walk on and occasionally move to prevent the soil becoming compressed.

[Yorkie]

I'm only going by what I was taught on my RHS course but if your experience is different, that's fine